Tamping mechanism.



C. G. BEWLEY.

TAMPING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. 19H}.

1,278,835. PatentedSgapt. 17,1918.

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i of which the CLAUDE G. BEWLEY, OF SPOKANE, WASH FLOWER POT MACHINECO., INC.

INGTON, 'ASSIGNOR TO SPOKANE CONCRETE A WASHINGTON CORPORATION.

TAMPING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

Application filed February 25, 1918. Serial No. 219,017.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDE G. BEWLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington,have invented new and useful Improvements in Tamping Mechanism,

following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tamping mechanism, and has todo more particularly with tamping mechanism especially adapted formolding machines.

My invention is particularly adapted for molding machines for makingconcrete flower pots in which the concrete is delivered between male andfemale molds, one of which rotates. As used on my present machine, myimproved mechanism includes a tamper adapted to extend between the moldsto tamp the concrete as the product is being formed. The tamper is givena reciprocating movement and the novel arrangement is such that as theproduct advances toward completion, the tamper recedes during itsreciproeating movement, by reason of its tamping contact with thegradually advancing fill, so that the concrete is uniformly packedirrespective of variation of the wall of the product. Further, thetamper is capable of being manually retracted or advanced from or towardthe material and is always ready for instant operation after adjustment.

In molding flower pots, and many other kinds of product, the walls notonly vary in their inclination from the vertical, as regards diflerentsizes and shapes, but the products call for adjustment as regards theirdifference in diameter, some requiring molds of relatively large, andothers requiring molds of relatively small diameter'or size. Thus myinvention provides for adjustment of' the tamper both as regards itsangular disposition, and to its radial adjustment with respect to theaxis of rotation of the molds or mold. In this connection, it is aspecial feature of my invention to provide means whereby either or bothcharacters of adjustment may be readily made without disconnecting theoperative connection between the tamper and its driving shaft.

My invention has many other features which will be more fully describedin connection with the accompanying drawing and which will be moreparticularly pointed out in and by the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 1s a VIBW 1n side elevation, with parts insection, showing one form of mywhich is shown provided with an adjustingslot 2. In this specific form, the invention is shown applied to amachine for making concrete flower pots and the female mold is indicatedat 3, and is rotatable, while the male mold is indicated at l, and ismovable into and out of the female mold, as illustrated in my patentedmachine. Suitable feeding mechanism, such for instance as shown in mypending application filed Feb. 9, 1918, Serial No. 216,245, is providedfor delivering the concrete to the space between the molds.

As the molding operation proceeds, it is necessary to tamp the concreteas the latter is delivered, and therefore my invention includes a tamper5, which may be a fiat strip of any suitable material, and of therequired thickness to operate between the molds;

preferably by being reciprocated.

I will next describe an improved cross head structure which serves toand by means, or through which movement is imparted to the tamper, thecross head being provided with a novel construction whereby the tamperis allowed to recede as the product advances toward completion.

My improved cross head structure is designated at 6, and the same isprovided with a fiat tamper abutting face 7, against which the tamper 5rests. A flat spring 8, centrally bowed at 9, has ends 10, which bearagainst the tamper 5, and the spring has flanges 11, which engageopposite sides of a yoke 12, whereby the spring is held in the positionshown. A tension screw 13, having a lock nut 14, serves to retain thespring under the desired tension whereby longitudinal movement of thetamper with respect to the cross head will be resisted sufliciently toonly permit of longitudinal adjustment of the tamper except whenconsiderable endwise.

thrust is applied thereto. However, it is a hold the tamper means of anad feature of my invention to limit movement of the tamper 5, as regardsadjustment and as regards reciprocation, to a straight linear movement.This is accomplished by the side walls of the yoke 12, which serve tohold the tamper against anything except endwise movement.

My improved cross head is laterally grooved, as shown at 15, and guides17 project into said grooves to permit the cross head to reciprocate onsaid guides. The guides may be connected, as by a bar 18, to maintainthe guides in line, and the said guides are also provided with lugs 19,for pivotal connection with an adjusting frame which I am now about todescribe. It will now be seen that by reason of this pivotal.adjustment, the tamper may be tilted to any desired angular positioneither from or to-- ward the vertical, or into a vertical position.

The cross head is, provided with a socket head, indicated at 20, andwhich is provided with a cavity into which oppositely acting socketmembers 21 and 22 are slidably mounted Each socket member may be casehardened, for engagement with a pitman ball 23. Each socket member isadjusted by justing'screw 24 and 25, the same having lock nuts 26 and27. Thus a rm operative ball and socket connection I is effected.

I will neXt describe the adjusting frame whereby bodily adjustment ofthe tamper, toward or away from the axis of rotation of the molds iseffected, in accordance with thesize of mold employed, that is, thediameter of molds employed.

Thebase' of the frame is indicated at 28 and is linearly .s'lidable intovarious positions of adjustment on the main-frame 1. Bolts 29, extendingthrough the base 28, and theslot 2, serve to hold the frame in adjustedpositions toward or from the molds 3 and 4. Journal-ed in said adjustingframe is a driven shaft 30, which is rotatable in a bearing 31 but whichis held against longitudinal movement therein by a collar 32, on oneside of the bearing and the hub 33, on the other side of the bearing.Hub 33, is part of a; crank member which is shown in the form of a disk34'. Crank disk3 has a cavity 35 wherein is disposed a pair ofoppositely acting socket members 36 and 37, between which is interposeda ball 38. ofa pitman 39., A wedge 40, or any suitable adjusting devicemay serveto advance and hold socket member 37 into engagement with ball38. An adjusting screw 41 and a lock nut 4:2,may serve to advance andhold socket member 36, in working engagement with ball 38. These socketmembers will also be case hardened. Thus pitman 39,

forms transmitting means for transmitting rotary motion from the disk 34to'reciprocate the cross head 6. 1

It will be clear that'in' making flower pots, many different sizes mayhave walls of the same slope, and in that event, the pivotal adjustmentwould not have to be used after the tamper had once been accuratelyadjusted. Howeventhe advantage of my construction lies in the fact thatirrespective as to whether or not thepivota-ladjustment is used,bodi'lyadjustment made by the frame does not require altering of thepivotal adjustment, and in case both are necessary, they are present.

By reason of the operative connection of the cross head with the drivenshaft, any

pivotal adjustment necessary may be made without disturbing or requiringany alteration of the driving connection between the cross head and thecrank disk.

It is believed that the novelty and utility of my invention will befullyunderstood from the foregoing description, and while I have herein shownand described one specific form of my invention, I do not wish to belimited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim V V g 1'. In a tamping machanism for machines for moldingconcrete flower pots, a tamper adapted to extend between the molds foren gagement with the concrete as it is being molded to form the wall ofthe pot, mechanism for imparting tamping movement to said tamper, and adevice for adjusting said mechanism to dispose the tamper at an.

angle corresponding to pot walls of difierent sizes. a a j 2. In at'amping mechanism for molding machines, a tamper, an adjustable frame,a guide pivoted on said frame for adjustment to different angularpositions, cross head slidable on said guide and connected'with saidtamper, a driven shaft journaled in said frame, and means forreciprocating said cross head from saidshaft.

3. In a tamping mechanism for molding machines, a tamper, and ad ustableframe, a gulde pivoted mentto difi'erent angular positions, a cross headslid-able on said guide and'conne'cted with said tamper,- a drivenshaftljournal'ed in said frame, a crank member on sald shaft, and apitman rod having a ball and socket connection with said crank memberand a ball and socket connection with said cross head. 7 V

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereby aflix mysignature.

CLAUDE eg nnvvnnra on said frame for adjustpies of this parent may beobtained for fin gent-S each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents,7

7 Washington, :0. c. I V v r

